Adhesive tape dispenser package

ABSTRACT

A dispenser package for adhesive tape transported on a carrier web which includes a cover element and a backing member. A roll of tape is enclosed between the two package elements, and a portion of the cover element is utilized in a functional manner to apply pressure against the tape in order to facilitate release of the tape from the carrier web for dispensing of the tape from the package.

United States Patent [191 Aldrich 1 ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER PACKAGE [7 5] lnventor: Walter S. Aldrich, Shorewood, Wis. [73] Assignee: W. H. Brady Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 112,985

[52] US. Cl. 206/52 R, 156/584, 206/78 B, 221/73 [51] Int. Cl 865d 85/67 [58] Field of Search 206/52 R, 58, 78 B, 206/64; 221/73, 72, 71; 156/584, 540, 577

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,313,194 4/1967 Hanscom 206/52 R 2,276,296 3/1942 Flood 206/58 [451 July 3,1973

3,212,669 10/1965 Kruger 221/70 3,044,535 7/1962 Krueger.... 156/584 3,218,003 11/1965 Bradshaw 206/64 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Att0rney-Donald G. Casser and Allan W. Leiser 57 ABSTRACT A dispenser package for adhesive tape transported on a carrier web which includes a cover element and a backing member. A roll of tape is enclosed between the two package elements, and a portion of the cover element is utilized in a functional manner to apply pressure against the tape in order to facilitate release of the tape from the carrier web for dispensing of the tape from the package.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJUL 3 I975 3.743.086 sum 1 or 2 INIVENTOR WALTER s. ALDRICH ATTORNEY PATENIEDJUL 3 I913 SHEEI 2 0F 2 INVENTOR LDRICH PRIOR ART Eur.

f4 PRIOR AR ATTORNEY WALTER S. A BY 11 ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is the art of packaging adhesive tape, such as tape with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, wound into roll-form with a carrier web, in such manner as will facilitate separation of the tape from the carrier web when it is desired to dispense the tape for use.

Adhesive tapes of various types may be secured to a release coated or treated carrier web and then wound into roll-form. A length of the tape and its attached carrier web is unwound from the roll, and then the tape is separated from the carrier web in order to use it. It is often desired to package the roll of adhesive tape with its temporarily attached carrier web in a package which will enclose the roll in order to protect it against physical damage and or contamination. Various types of packages have been devised which will protect a roll of adhesive tape and also aid in obtaining separation of the tape from the carrier web.

One of the typical packages employed for roll-form adhesive tapes is a so-called blister pack which includes a thermoformed plastic cover element having a surrounding flange that is heat sealed to a flat base element with the roll of adhesive tape carried between the cover and base elements. A prior art form of such package employs a formed covered element which includes a housing section in which the roll of tape is stored and an exit portion having a formed channel communicating with the housing portion. Tape unwound from the roll stored in the package is led through the channel formed in the exit portion of the cover element and thereafter bent around an edge of the base member with the intention that tape will separate from the carrier web as it is bent over the edge of the base member, whereupon the user can grasp part of the tape to remove it from the carrier web and apply it to an object. However, it has been noted that it is often difficult to obtain the desired separation of the tape from the carrier web with prior art packages as described and that the tape often will not release from the carrier web as it is led over the edge of the backing member, and the user must place his finger over the tape in order to obtain its release from the carrier web.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION My present invention relates to an improved package for adhesive tape transported on a carrier web of the general type comprising a formed cover member secured to a flat base member providing an enclosure for a roll of the tape and wherein, in accordance with the general concepts of this invention, the cover member is adapted to provide a restraining force bearing against the adhesive tape as it exits the storage enclosure to thereby facilitate and enhance the release of the tape from the carrier web as the two are moved across the edge of the backing member element of the package. In its presently-preferred embodiment as described hereinafter, the formed cover element of the package has a flat exit portion through which the tape and carrier web pass after being unwound from the stored roll and which is adapted to bear against the surface of the tape as it moves through the exit portion.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a dispenser package for a wound roll of adhesive tape carried on a carrier web comprising a pair of packaging elements, wherein one of the packaging elements is adapted to additionally function as a means for applying a restraining force on the tape as it is being dispensed from the package in a manner which will aid in the release of the tape from the carrier web during the dispensing action.

A further main object is to provide a tape-restraining adhesive tape dispensing package of the foregoing general type which utilizes no structural or mechanical elements in addition to the two packaging elements, which has the advantage of thereby preserving the simplicity and economy of a two element package such as a blister-type of package. Another principal object is to provide a web-restraining adhesive tape dispenser package formed ofa cover element and a base element in which the cover element is utilized to apply a substantially constant restraining force on the web, thereby leading to the advantage of insuring uniform dispensing of the tape from the package.

Another major object is a provision of the webtensioning adhesive tape dispensing package as described above wherein the package elements combine to insure that the tape and carrier web will closely follow the sharp edge of the base element card after the tape leaves the wound roll, such conforming-type of tape travel wherein the tape may contact the surface of the base member of the package being important to the achievement of release of the tape from the carrier web as the two are led over a sharp edge of the base member.

Another important object is the provision of an adhesive tape dispensing package of the general type described above in which the package itself provides the web restraining force needed for satisfactory release; this eliminates the need for user preparation or user action, thereby removing a variable factor affecting proper dispensing action, making the package substantially more convenient to the user and eliminating the possibility of user errors.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide the particular construction details as hereinafter set forth in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an adhesive tape dispensing package, with a portion broken away, in a presentlypreferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 which illustrates the dispensing action of the package construction of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the tape and carrier webs used in the roll enclosed in the package of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 5A are partial sectional views to show the relationship of the package elements and a tape in position for travel thercbetween through the exit portion of the package;

FIG. 6 is a front view, with a portion broken away, of a prior art tape dispensing package shown to compare to the struction and action of the package of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the package of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the card of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional showing the relationship between the two package elements and an adhesive tape in the exit portion of the package as shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a presently-preferred embodiment of the package of this invention, which includes three principal elements; a base member 10, a cover element 11 and roll 12 comprising a web adhesive tape 13 and a carrier web 14 wound together into roll-form.

The base member 10 may comprise a sheet of cardboard, card stock, plastic, or other materal of suitable rigidity inasmuch as it forms the principal stiffening member of the package. In the form shown herein, the base member 10 is a sheet of cardboard about to 15 mils thick with a heat scalable coating on its upper surface.

The cover element 11 in the illustrated form is a piece of plastic thermo-formed to include a central housing portion 15, an exit portion 16, and a peripheral flange 17. The flange 17 is heat sealed to the base member in order to construct the package enclosure. The housing portion of the cover element has a central section 15a which is depressed relative to the top 15b of the housing and may also be heat sealed to the base member 10 to form a hub inserted into the core of the roll 12.

The web 13 of adhesive tape has a toplayer 18 and a layer 19 of adhesive firmly secured to one surface of the toplayer, (see especially FIG. 4). The carrier web 14 is releasably secured to the adhesive layer 19 of the tape and serves to protect it from sticking to adjacent layers of the roll in addition to its transport function discussed below. In a typical instance, the adhesive will comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive that is slightly tacky and is adhered to an object by the application of pressure. The carrier web 14 may comprise a material having its surface in contact with the adhesive layer 19 suitably release coated so that the adhesive will cleanly release from the carrier web without substantial transfer of adhesive to the carrier web when it is desired to use a portion of the tape for application to an object. In the illustrated form, the adhesive tape 13 is slit transversely to form a plurality of short markers 20 carried end-to-end on the carrier web. The roll 12 thus comprises interleaved layers of adhesive tape 13 and carrier web 14.

The roll 12 is carried between the base member 10 and the cover element 11 and enclosed by the housing portion 15 of the cover element while resting upon an underlying area of the base member. A portion of the tape and its adjoining section of the carrier web is unwound from the roll 12 to extend through the exit portion 16 of the cover element and is then led about a nearby edge 21 of the base member 10; the edge 21 may include a notch as shown through which the carrier web and tape pass.

The dispensing action of the package of this invention is best illustrated in FIG. 3. As the carrier web 12 is led about the edge 21 of the base member and pulled downwardly along or near the back surface of the base member, the adhesive tape 13 releases from the carrier web 14 as the latter makes a 180 bend around the edge of the card. Each marker .20 of the adhesive tape will then project at an angle to the base member such as shown by marker 20a in FIG. 3 from which position it can be grasped by the user, removed from the carrier web and applied to an object. If the adhesive tape is not slit into market sections, the user may cut off the projecting portion in the desired length.

The package construction of the present invention is designed to facilitate the release of the tape from the carrier web as it is transported about the base member in the described fashion. It is essential that the tape markers 20 release from the carrier web as it moves over the edge 2], otherwise they would remain adhered to the carrier web as it advanced along the back of the base member and would then be difficult to remove from the carrier web. This is accomplished, according to this invention, by providing means bearing against the upper surface of the tape, either along its marginal edge portions or along the entire surface, after the tape leaves the housing portion of the cover element. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the cover element 11 is attached to the base member 10 by heat sealing the flange areas 17 on either side of the tape 13 and carrier web 14 along the exit portion 16 of the cover element. A section of the exit portion 16 is flat and is not formed into a three-dimensional structure; during the heat sealing operation, the heat seals joining the cover to the base member along the flange 17 extend to closely adjacent to the side edges of the tape and the section of the exit portion 16 of the cover element which extends across the tape assumes a catenary curve due to the interpositioning of the tape and carrier webs between two otherwise flat elements. The cover element will thereby contact the upper surface of the tape along its opposed marginal edge portions as it travels through the exit portion. The section of the base member under the carrier may be flat as shown or be slightly curved by action of the heat dies used to join the two package elements together, but in either case it will be substantially flat. Further, when pressure is used to pull the carrier web over the edge of the card, the tape and carrier web may assume a slightly concave cross-sectional shape which will cause the upper surface of the tape to contact the curved interior surface of the overlying section of the exit portion which extends across the tape, thereby additionally facilitating the application of a restraining force on the tape as it is transported through the exit portion. In an alternate form, referring now to FIG. 5A, the section of the exit portion 16 of the cover element 11 which overlies the tape may assume less curvature than that shown in FIG. 5 so that it will be in contact with substantially the entire width of the top surface of the tape passing through the exit portion. In either case, part of the cover element is utilized in a functional manner when constructed in the illustrated fashion so as to apply a back-tension or restraining force which will serve to restrict free travel of the tape and carrier web through the exit portion of the cover element while at the same time enabling the two webs to be pulled through readily by hand. It is thought that compression forces exerted by this section of the cover element may develop horizontal force vectors in the tape which will cause it to assume an arcuate cross section when it is transported and thereby give it strength and facilitate its release from the carrier web. While the action of the package of this invention is difficult to describe and illustrate precisely because of the scale involved, it becomes readily apparent to a user in view of the excellent release of the tape from the carrier which is obtained during the dispensing action. While a portion of the cover element is utilized in the illustrated embodiments for applying this interfacial restraining force along the top surface of the tape, the same action can be obtained by using a small piece of plastic as a means separate from the cover element but constructed in the described manner, although the cover element which provides this tape restraining means as an integral function in addition to its packaging function represents the most economical way to manufacture the package as presently considered. Furthermore, the restraining force applied by the illustrated structure of the exit portion 16 of the cover element is a relatively constant force inasmuch as it is not dependent upon the amount of tape on the roll or upon the amount of force which is exerted on the tape by the user.

Returning to FIG. 2, the carrier web 14 after being pulled across the edge 21 of the base member may pass through a pair of spaced axial slots 25 and 26 which are somewhat wider than the tape and which are interconnected by a longitudinal slot 27. The threading of the carrier web through the slots 25, 26 and 27 is also illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 3. This provides a means to cause the carrier web to move against the rear surface of the base member during the dispensing action. This is an optional feature, and other equivalent structures including various forms of slot configurations and mechanical means may be employed, and while it is not necessary in order to obtain the desired dispensing action of the present package, it provides for convenient transport of the carrier web along the bottom of the card and serves to insure that the user makes a 180 or nearly 180 bend in the carrier web to provide positive dispensing action.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED PRIOR ART A prior art form of dispenser package similar to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. It includes a base member 40 and cover element 41, with a roll 42 of adhesive tape 43 on a carrier web 44 carried between the base member and cover element. The exit portion 46 of the cover element is formed into a threedimensional structure including a channel 48 through which the tape and carrier webs travel upon being unwound from the roll 42; thus, there is no means for applying a restraining force or tension on the tape during its transport after leaving the roll 42. On the rear surface of the card, see FIGS. 7 and 8, a staple 49 is provided under which the carrier web 14 is threaded. When the user grasps the end of the carrier web as in FIG. 8 the tape and its attendant releasably-attached carrier web is freely unwound from the roll 42 and the two webs assume a somewhat bowed-out shape as they travel over the ege 51 of the base member 40. The tape 13, therefore, will not release from the carrier 14 unless the user applies some external force against the tape after it leaves the cover element 41; this is typically accomplished by applying finger pressure against the tape on the top of the base member after it leaves the exit portion 46 of the cover element. However, it is difficult to apply the proper amount of tension or pressure which will secure release of the markers 20 of the tape so that it often happens that the markers 20 continue their travel about the edge of the base member in the manner shown in FIG. 8. Securing suitable release of the markers 20 can be a frustrating action particularly when very thin tape is used. In comparison to this prior art construction, it has been found that the dispenser package of this invention provides accurate, dependable release of the tape from the carrier web during the dispensing operation.

5 EXAMPLE A package as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 was constructed in which the base member was of card stock approximately 8 mils thick which had a heat seal coating on its top surface. The cover element 11 was made from a 2 mil thick sheet of cellulose acetate butyrate plastic thermoformed to include the three-dimensional housing portion and flat exit portion 16. Released coated paper approximately 2.5 mils thick was used as the carrier web 14, and the tape was a film polyester about 0.7 mils thick that had an aluminized coating and which was slit into markers approximately I inch long. It was found that when the exit portion 16 of the cover element remained flat so as to provide the configuration as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, a restraining force was applied against the top surface of the tape and effective dispensing of the tape from the carrier web was obtained as the latter traveled over the edge 21 of the base member. This dispensing action was dependable in that all of the markers were released from the carrier web and the package was easy to use in that a user did not have to employ any additional operation other than pulling the carrier web across the rear surface of the base member.

There has thus been described a new dispenser package for packaging a roll of adhesive tape carried on a carrier web which comprises a backing member and a cover element wherein a portion of the cover element, or similar structure, is utilized as a means for applying pressure against the surface of the tape as it travels thereunder. This enables facile release of the adhesive tape from the carrier web as the latter is moved about a nearby edge of the base member whereupon the user can grasp the tape after it is separated from the carrier web and remove it for application to an object. The package may be utilized with rolls of adhesive tapes having various types of adhesives including solventactivated adhesives and pressure sensitive adhesives. The tape may include a toplayer formed of one or more similar or dissimilar webs firmly joined together, or a coated web, and may utilize plastic, metallic or paper materials. The cover and base elements of the package may have constructions other than those particularly disclosed herein and yet produce a package of this invention. In general, the construction of the package according to this invention which includes a roll of tape packaged between a cover element and a base member wherein a section of the cover bears against the top surface of the tape after it is unwound from the roll provides a section of the composite package in which the cover and base members are held together tightly by the strength of the materials, but through which the tape can move while being held back only by the force generated by separating the two parts. This force of separation translates into a resistance to the forward movement of the tape through the subject portion of the package and insures that the carrier web will follow a sharp edge of the base member in order to thereby obtain dependable and accurate release of the tape from the carrier web with a package that is economical to manufacture, which is easy to use without mistakes, and in which no user preparation to position or tension the tape is necessary since this is provided by the configuration of the package herein disclosed.

Although several structural forms of this invention have been illustrated or described, the invention is not limited to the specific constructions herein disclosed and it is expected that those skilled in the art may be able to devise changes in the disclosed structural features while still practicing this invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of this invention herein disclosed, as well as other embodiments, which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A package comprising (1 a base member, (2) a cover element joined to the base member and including a housing portion and an exit portion, and (3) a roll comprising (a) a web of adhesive tape having a toplayer with an adhesive layer secured to one side thereof and (b) a carrier web releasably joined to the adhesive layer of the tape, the roll consisting of interleaved layers of the tape and carrier webs,

the roll being arranged between the housing portion of the cover element and an underlying portion of ment and the base member upon being unwound from the roll with a section of the cover element overlying the tape and a section of the base member underlying the carrier web,

a. the section of the base member underlying the carrier web being in a substantially flat condition, and

b. the section of the cover element overlying the tape being slightly curved with its inner surface bearing against the top surface of the toplayer of the tape,

the carrier web being tensioned upon movement about an edge of the base member after transport of the tape and carrier webs from under the cover element, at which edge the tape releases from the carrier web for dispensing thereof from the package.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein:

the cover element is formed of thermoplastic material and the base member has a heat scalable surface with the cover element being heat sealed thereto to form a package enclosure, there being a heat sealed portion of the cover element on each side of the tape and carrier webs extending through the exit portion of the cover element with each said heat sealed portions being arranged closely adjacent to its respective edge of the tape.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein: the section of the cover element overlying the tape bears against opposed marginal edge portions of the top surface of the toplayer of the tape. 

1. A package comprising (1) a base member, (2) a cover element joined to the base member and including a housing portion and an exit portion, and (3) a roll comprising (a) a web of adhesive tape having a toplayer with an adhesive layer secured to one side thereof and (b) a carrier web releasably joined to the adhesive layer of the tape, the roll consisting of interleaved layers of the tape and carrier webs, the roll being arranged between the housing portion of the cover element and an underlying portion of the base member with part of the carrier web and the tape being unwound from the roll and extending through the exit portion for travel about an edge of the base member, the improvement wherein: the tape and carrier webs pass between the cover element and the base member upon being unwound from the roll with a section of the cover element overlying the tape and a section of the base member underlying the carrier web, a. the section of the base member underlying the carrier web being in a substantially flat condition, and b. the section of the cover element overlying the tape being slightly curved with its inner surface bearing against the top surface of the toplayer of the tape, the carrier web being tensioned upon movement about an edge of the base member after transport of the tape and carrier webs from under the cover element, at which edge the tape releases from the carrier web for dispensing thereof from the package.
 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein: the cover element is formed of thermoplastic material and the base member has a heat sealable surface with the cover element being heat sealed thereto to form a pacKage enclosure, there being a heat sealed portion of the cover element on each side of the tape and carrier webs extending through the exit portion of the cover element with each said heat sealed portions being arranged closely adjacent to its respective edge of the tape.
 3. A package according to claim 1, wherein: the section of the cover element overlying the tape bears against opposed marginal edge portions of the top surface of the toplayer of the tape. 